These machines are also referred to as steam cleaners. These are good if you want to do the job yourself. There are however a few things that you would have to look into. The extraction cleaners that take the help of dry absorbent compounds do not work very well and those that wash the carpet leave behind residue that again attracts dirt to itself which means another round of cleaning. If the machine is not used in the correct way it might result in a sticky carpet. You would therefore have to be careful about the proper usage of the hot water extraction unit for the maximum benefit.
First step: Vacuuming the carpet
While professional extraction cleaners might not feel the need to vacuum, if you are cleaning the carpet yourself you would be using small rental units and this requires you to first vacuum the carpet. You must also be careful not to wet the area too much as the units are not well equipped to suck out the moisture afterwards.
Over-wetting of the carpet is a problem and can result in the carpet backing getting delaminated. Another issue that crops up with having a moist carpet of the house is the growth of mold and fungus which can damage the carpet. Unpleasant smell is yet another problem.
Use hot water
It is necessary that the water is very hot when you use it for the extraction process. When you use very hot water it would kill the mites and the other insects that might be present in the carpet. Also usage of hot water would speed up the time required for drying the carpet.
Take care not to overdo it.
It is recommended that you limit the cleaning process to two passes of the wand. This prevents over wetting. Also overdoing the extraction process might result in the carpet getting damaged.
Dry it fast
One of the most important things to do while you are cleaning the carpet yourself is to dry the carpet as quickly as possible. This saves the carpet from over wetting. It is a good idea to clean your carpet on a day that is not humid. After this you can place fans in the room to let it dry as fast as possible. Make sure that the fans are able to reach every corner of the carpet. It is also important that you keep the doors and the windows open to let the air in and keep the humidity out.
It is possible to clean your carpets by following the do-it-yourself water extraction tips. It is also important that you learn to use the machine properly for best results.
